2019 -- S 0301

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE

AND DISCIPLINE

     

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Crowley, Nesselbush, Metts, and Picard

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 5-37 of the General Laws entitled "Board of Medical Licensure and

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Discipline" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     5-37-2.2. Election as to participation in maintenance of effort programs.

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     (a) Definitions. As used in this section:

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     (1) "Hospital" has the same meaning as defined in § 23-17-2.

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     (2) "Maintenance of certification" means a continuous professional development program

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through which physicians are certified by one or more of the nationally recognized medical

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specialty boards. Maintenance of certification is separate from and in addition to any

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recertification and continuing medical education requirements required pursuant to § 5-37-2.1.

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     (3) "Physician" has the same meaning as defined in § 23-17-2.

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     (b) Maintenance of certification by hospital physicians.

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     (1) The medical staff (the staff) at any hospital shall decide by majority vote whether to

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require the staff to participate in a maintenance of certification program or programs. A hospital

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shall not impose a requirement that the staff participate in a maintenance of certification program

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without an affirmative vote by the staff to do so as provided by this section. No maintenance of

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certification program requirements shall be enforced at any hospital unless the staff affirmatively

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votes to impose such requirements.

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     (2) In the event the staff elects to participate in a maintenance of certification program,

 

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the staff shall also decide by majority vote, which medical specialty board the staff shall utilize to

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implement the maintenance of certification program.

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     (3) A vote whereby the staff affirmatively agrees to participate in a maintenance of

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certification program shall remain in effect for a period of time as determined by a majority vote

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of the staff, and shall be binding upon any physician who is or who seeks to become a staff

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member or have admitting privileges at the hospital at any time while the certification program is

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in effect.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 27-20.6 of the General Laws entitled "Health Care Insurers -

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Coordination of Benefits" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     27-20.6-3.1. Maintenance of certification not to be considered in coordination of

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benefits.

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     A health care insurer shall not deny reimbursement or discriminate in reimbursement

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rates to a physician or hospital, nor prevent a physician or hospital from participating in any of

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the insurer's provider networks, based solely on a physician’s decision not to participate in any

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form of maintenance of certification, or a decision made by a hospital’s medical staff as to

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whether or not to participate in a maintenance certification program or, if there is an election to

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participate, then upon the particular medical specialty board that is chosen, pursuant to § 5-37-

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2.2.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE

AND DISCIPLINE

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     This act would authorize hospital medical staff to elect whether or not to participate in a

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maintenance of certification program. If the staff elects to participate in such a program, the staff

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would also elect the medical specialty board the staff would utilize to implement the maintenance

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of certification program. This act would also prohibit health care insurers from denying

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reimbursement to a physician or hospital based solely upon this election.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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